Beginner interested in tracking pants/suit.

[gump1119 0]

Hey. I'm new to skydiving and about to get my A license. I've been reading about different disciplines in the sport online and have recently become intrigued by tracking suits. I tried doing a couple searches but couldn't find what I was looking for. Here are my questions;

-How many jumps is it recommended I have under my belt before I first fly a tracking suit? I know ultimately that its my comfort level that should determine when I am ready to take anything to the next level but I don't want to be overconfident.

-When first getting into tracking suits, what kinds of things/skills should I work on, practice, and ask about around the dropzone? I know that jump planning will be more crucial to avoid freefall conflicts with other jumpers and to avoid flying away from the landing zone. What kinds of things need to be taken into consideration? Where would someone with a tracking suit be in the exit order of jump run? And, what would a typical jump plan be?

-Is it recommended that when first learning a tracking suit I start with just the pants or is it alright to start with the pants and jacket? What kind of pants and jacket should I go with? I would like something that I can learn on and start with earlier but I want it to keep my interest. I'm looking at the PF Tracking Suit and the BM Impact suit right now. The BM Impact suit has really got my interest because of the pants only, pants + jacket, and pant + jacket + pant wing options seem like a good way to keep upgrading performance once skill has improved.

Sorry for all the questions but I'm really interested in this and wanted to know what the sky guru's had to say. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[JohanW 0]

Did you read the FAQ? It's the sticky right at the top of the forum you just posted in ..

Johan.
I am. I think.

[gump1119 0]

Yes, I've read the faq, however the faq concentrates on Wingsuit flying and says nothing about tracking suits and I've read in a few places that the prerequisite for tracking suits is significantly less than for wingsuits. If the faq answered my questions, then I would not have created this thread.

[Mikki_ZH 0]

Do a lot of tracking jumps without the suit first. If you are not a good tracker without the suit, you will suck also with the suit. When you are at the point that you are a good tracker you will be able to answer most of your questions by yourself.

Michi (#1068)
hsbc/gba/sba
www.swissbaseassociation.ch
www.michibase.ch

[phoenixlpr 0]

If I were you I would focus on graduating and getting A license first. You don't need anything special for a track dive, but you can learn a lot there.

[mccordia 74]

I think many people focus too much on the performance they'll think they'll be getting from a tracksuit...but they dont realise that the suit only adds to what they put in with their own skills.

I've seen people spend A LOT of money getting tracking-gear. And doing speeds and distances that most skilled flyers can get wearing shorts..

If you're only using it as a training-tool for wingsuit flying...forget about the trackingsuit, and work on your own flying skills..a normal trackingdive is just like a wingsuitjump. Just shorter freefall and distance...if you cant make 6 docks in one jump, do big carves around a formation towards your slot, high speed dives from the airplane getting out last, and knowing how backfly without a trackingsuit...then you sure wont be able to do any of those if you get one...

PF & BM make incredible tracking-gear...that can make you do insane things if you have the skills......but for some people using it in skydiving, its only freeflying in a very expensive plastic jacket...

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[LouDiamond 1]

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I think many people focus too much on the performance they'll think they'll be getting from a tracksuit...but they dont realise that the suit only adds to what they put in with their own skills.

Very true, even more so for those already flying wingsuits.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[mccordia 74]

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I think many people focus too much on the performance they'll think they'll be getting from a tracksuit...but they dont realise that the suit only adds to what they put in with their own skills.

Very true, even more so for those already flying wingsuits.

Just buy a V2, and you'll be fine..

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[MyTwoCents 0]

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I think many people focus too much on the performance they'll think they'll be getting from a tracksuit...but they dont realise that the suit only adds to what they put in with their own skills.

I've seen people spend A LOT of money getting tracking-gear. And doing speeds and distances that most skilled flyers can get wearing shorts..

So what?

Some people buy expensive shoes in the hope of getting laid, but yet you see uglier people get laid much easier. That doesn't mean that your shoes don't look good.

If you got the money...

Maybe the original poster doesn't want to become the best tracker ever. Undeniably if he's going to jump a Phoenix setup for the first time he's going to fall slower, and maybe have a bit more forward speed. Most of all, he's probably going to have a ton of fun.

Maybe he'll do some tracking in jeans later, maybe not. It doesn't matter, as long as people are safe, we should encourage them to do what they think is fun.

Obviously safety is a factor, so I wouldn't tell somebody with twenty skydives to go fly a tricked-out tracking setup, but to actively discourage people from having fun once they have, say, fifty skydives; that's just snobbish.

Remember, the more money people give to Phoenix Fly and Birdman, the more money they have to do research on new toys...

[gump1119 0]

Well said, very well said. Thanks.

I guess if you actually want information or questions answer, instead of opinions, the forum is the wrong place to look.

For those that helped, thank you for your time. For everyone else, have fun knowing everything, while I enjoy learning.

[The111 1]

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I guess if you actually want information or questions answer, instead of opinions, the forum is the wrong place to look.

While I sympathize with your position and disagree with some of the opinions offered myself, you must understand that the questions you offered REQUIRE an opinion to be answered.

If you ask "what should", "how should", or "when should" questions, do not be surprised when opinions are brought to the table.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[JohanW 0]

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Yes, I've read the faq, however the faq concentrates on Wingsuit flying and says nothing about tracking suits and I've read in a few places that the prerequisite for tracking suits is significantly less than for wingsuits. If the faq answered my questions, then I would not have created this thread.

Ah, I see. My humble apologies.

I haven't read the FAQ. Well, lately. I assumed there would be something in it about tracking suits, seeing how the questions are being asked more and more frequently.

A quick search did not even dig up many definite answers to your questions - then again, with respect to tracking suits there are not (yet?) many definite answers. There are opinions, but BM does not seem to make any specific recommendations, and PF says something about 'good judgement' and 50 jumps (which at least some experienced fliers feel is too few). (I looked as FlyYourBody but was a bit put off by it being in French.)

Johan.
I am. I think.

[gump1119 0]

Opinions are fine if they answer my questions. An experienced flyers opinion on when I should begin to try a tracking suit is valuable. I'm not looking for someone whose opinion is that I shouldn't waste time or money doing what I have already decided I would like to do.

[mccordia 74]

Sorry man.....first working on getting the skills to be able to fly what you want you buy...what an incredibly stupid advice....what was I thinking...

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[Mikki_ZH 0]

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Opinions are fine if they answer my questions. An experienced flyers opinion on when I should begin to try a tracking suit is valuable. I'm not looking for someone whose opinion is that I shouldn't waste time or money doing what I have already decided I would like to do.

Important: Just get someone to film you. It is always funny seeing a 18 jump wonder without the nescessary skills try something. The filmer should have good head down skills in order to get some nice pictures. Enjoy!

Michi (#1068)
hsbc/gba/sba
www.swissbaseassociation.ch
www.michibase.ch

[plutoniumsalmon 0]

I hate posting but this is kind of funny
Does it not look like that on his little picture under the screen name that he is sliding (tracking) back wards (the feet are almost on his ass and the arms are too far out)? Perhaps the tracking suit will stop that
As far as advice I have none to offer since I know a guy that started trying to hook it in on student status and bought a wingsuit on the 60 th jump. And he is still alive.

I would not though get the suit right now and spend money on other equipment, jump tickets and even of you dont drink it beer (you will have a lot of firsts in the coming months)

Pointy birds
Oh pointy pointy
Anoint my head
Anointy nointy

[jakee 1,500]

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Does it not look like that on his little picture under the screen name that he is sliding (tracking) back wards (the feet are almost on his ass and the arms are too far out)?

Definitely, but hey - who wasn't backsliding at 18 jumps?

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As far as advice I have none to offer since I know a guy that started trying to hook it in on student status and bought a wingsuit on the 60th jump. And he is still alive.

The dude I did my first flights with told me that he taught himself to fly wingsuits at 100 jumps by reading the instructions on his Classic2. He's now a BMI, PFI and all round good guy
Then again I would certainly think it worth the original poster waiting until he's at least a competent enough tracker that he doesn't spend the first jump screaming earthwards in a spiralling headdown dive. How long will that be? Who knows - I know a guy who tried an Access at 250+ jumps and got 150mph vertical on his first jump on it. Kinda defeats the purpose really.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[gump1119 0]

Is this better form?

In the other pic I was turning back towards the other jumper and more concentrated on not over steering than about my leg position . Plus that was only jump #10 so simple math says that I'm like twice as good now than I was then, lol.

So in a nutshell:
Don't suck, after that happens then think about buying cool stuff. And try it before you buy it so you don't waste time or money on expensive plastic clothes. That's what I'm getting from this. Thanks for your time and help. If you are ever find yourself north of Denver, Colorado for a weekend, maybe I'll see you around the dropzone. Look for the bright orange rig .